Canadian Labour Reporter

PM #40065782 Labour Reporter Canadian www.labourreporter.com April 28, 2014 B.C. McDonald's accused of abusing foreign worker program Federal government launches investigation at fast food chain By SaBrina nanji Despite the naMe, the workers who serve Happy Meals at McDonald's in British Colum- bia are anything but. The company — in particular, one of the franchisee's three loca- tions on the west coast — has been accused of abusing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and of hiring out-of-country staff ahead of capable and willing Canadians. As a result, the federal govern- ment suspended all pending for- eign worker permits and black- listed the individual franchisee from using the program until the investigation wraps up. Employment and Social Devel- opment Canada launched the in- vestigation following accusations that the fast food establishments were bringing in dozens of Fili- pino workers despite a steady flow of Canadian resumés. As well, workers alleged their hours had been cut back to make room for temporary foreign workers. In Victoria, B.C., there are about 26 foreign workers current- ly employed at the McDonald's restaurants in question. As they currently stand, the rules of the federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program are such that an employer can only hire a foreign staffer if it can prove there are no qualified Ca- nadians available. According to Richard Truscott, the Canadian Federation of Inde- pendent Business' director of pro- vincial affairs for Alberta, the ac- tions of a few businesses can sour the experience for the rest. "There's a few businesses that apparently are breaking or bend- ing the rules and quite frankly it's going to end up hurting all busi- nesses that utilize the temporary foreign worker program to find people to work in their business," said Truscott. "I can tell you, for many small businesses, tem- porary foreign workers are an MUNICIPALITY City of Medicine hat Medicine hat, alta. (45 employees) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 254. Renewal agreement: Effective Jan. 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2015. Wage adjustments: Effective Jan. 1, 2014: 3.5% Effective Jan. 1, 2015: 3.5% shift premium: $2.50 per hour for all shifts worked between 4 p.m. and 8 a.m. paid holidays: 12 days. Vacations with pay: 3 weeks Equal Pay Day The government of Ontario proclaims April 16 Equal Pay Day. ArbitrAtion AwArDs pg. 2 see Foreign> pg. 7 see Work > pg. 6 see Collective agreements > pg. 3 Foreman claims he was forced out, on to sick leave pg. 6 Construction Labour Relations Association of Manitoba pg. 3 University of Guelph - Guelph, Ont. pg. 4 Canadian Forces Base - Kingston, Ont. pg. 4 Matthew's Equipment - Fort McMurray, Alta. pg. 4 Saint John Construction Association - Saint John County, N.B. pg. 5 Refrigeration foreman left out in the cold it's not peRsonal — it's just business. An ex-foreman at a refrigera- tion company in British Columbia who was fired during a slow period believed the opposite. As such, Robert Koster, who worked at Fraser Valley Refrig- eration, filed a grievance alleging he was wrongfully terminated. Instead of being fired because of a lack of work, as his employer claimed, Koster believed he was let go because he and his boss did not get along on a personal level. Shortly afterward, the Sheet CollECtivE AgrEEmEnts ColleCtive Agreements ArbitrAtion AwArds Workers at certain McDonald's locations in British Columbia allege they are being overlooked when it comes to hiring. Credit: Keith Bedford (Reuters)

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